Telescopic multiple-socket wrench



Nov. 24, 1953 G. A. DREEsE 2,660,082

TELESCOPIC MULTIPLE-SOCKET WRENCH Filed Aug. 25, 1952 IN VENTOR @e orge f'eese ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1,953

UNITED"A Z Claims. i This invention relates to an improved handoperated wrench, having particular reference to socket wrenches.

An outstanding object of the invention is to provide a novel composite socket wrench embodying a plurality of permanently united interfitting telescopically arranged socket members, the latter being so constructed as to enable socketcontaining ends of said members to be projected or retracted selectively into and out of active positions. Y

Another object of the invention is toprovide a multiple-socket wrench composed of intertting telescoping members wherein manually operated means are provided, accessible from the exterior of the wrench, by which the socketed ends of said members may be selectively projected or retracted to assume active or inactive operating positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the character set forth wherein an outer tubular member is formed with an internal longitudinally extending chamber which terminates at its outer or lower end in a nut-receiving socket having polygonal walls, there being slidably mounted in said chamber an intermediate tubular member open at both of its ends, the lower or outer end of the intermediate member being formed with a nut-receiving socket adapted to register with that of the outer member, and,

further, there being slidably arranged in the;

intermediate member an inner socket-carrying member having its outer or lower end formed with a socket normally disposed in nesting relation with those of the outer and intermediate members, and wherein said intermediate and outer members are formed midway of their length with elongated slots for the slidable reception of a threaded stud carried by and projecting laterally from the inner member, said stud having its outer end threaded and equipped with a binding nut, which, when loosened, permits of the selective adjustment of said members relative to each other, and when tightened serves to maintain said members in fixed positions of relative adjustment.

Still a `further object of the invention is to provide amultiple-socket wrench of the type indicated in which the internal chamber of an outer tubular member is provided with spring means u ated manually operated threaded means, the latter being accessible from the exterior of the outer member.

For a further understanding of the invention,

reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a multiplesocket wrench formed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the wrench on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and illustrating more particularly the manually operated threaded stud and nut construction for maintaining the adjustment of the telescopic members of the wrench;

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 and disclosing the nut-receiving sockets of the telescopic members of the wrench;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view disclosing the lower portion of the wrench when the inner socket member thereof is projected to its active f position.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, my improved multiple-socket wrench is indicated in its entirety by the numeral I. In the construction disclosed, the wrench comprises outer, in-

termediate and inner socket members 2, `3 and 4, respectively. For convenience in assembly, the outer socket member comprises an elongated hollow cylindrical body composed of two sections: rst, a handle section indicated at H, and,

, handle section H. Headed screws E may be utilized in positively securing the two sections of the outer member in assembled relation. The handle section I-I includes an internal spring chamber 'l which at its lower end communicates with the hollow interior of the shank section S. In this instance, the shank section is formed with an elongated longitudinally extending slot 8, the purpose of which will be hereinafter dened. At its lower or outer end the shank section S includes a polygonal nut-receiving socket 9.

Slidably positioned in the hollow interior of the outer socket member is the intermediate socket member 3. This member comprises a. suitable length of metallic tubing, which is open at both its inner and outer ends, that is, its upper and Y 3 lower ends, as the tool is viewed in Fig. 2. The lower or outer end of the intermediate member is formed with a nut-receiving socket, shown at I0. Intermediately of its length the member 3 is provided with a longitudinally'extending slot II, which is disposed in registry with the slot 8 in the member 2.

The upper or inner end of the member 3 includes an annular seat I2 against which is positioned the lower end of a coil spring I 3, the upper end of this spring being engaged with the closed upper end of the chamber 1.

in a downward or outward direction. Such move-.

ment is limited by a stop ring I4, carried by the,

member 3, which engages with the upper edge of the shank sections of the memberZ.' This lerithe form of a cylindricalrod having a' nut-re-Y ceiving socketl .formed in its lower or outer end. The upper end of the inner member lis vsomewhat tapered, as indicated at I6, the same `,terminating in a `collar I'I. A'Vcoil spring Iis positionedbetween the upper end'of ,the intermediate Vmember 3 and the under surfaceof the collar I1, the( spring I8 thus Yserving toforce the inner member upwardly, so that normally the socketed lowerv end of the inner member is arranged within the connesiof'the, socket II) but4 spaced above its lower edge, as shown in Fig '2.1

In order to control the selective use of `the members 2, 3 `and V4, there is provided atrans- Verselyextending :studia4 The shank of this stud is mounted inga transverse opening -fornied in the Amember 4 ,intermediateqits length. The

threaded end 2 I of` saidstud extends through` the vertical slots Sand Il formed.,res pective1y In this instance the` in the members 2 and 3. threaded end of said stud is equippedwitha clamping nut 22which`tightens againstpthev outer surface of the'member 2 in a manner holding the v members of the Wrenchagainst relativev movement.

The expansion of, the spring I3 serves to move the inner member 3 nIt. willibe seen,Y that with. the tool positioned as v,

shownY in lig.y 2,.thetighteningkofpthe nut 22 applies binding forces to the socketednrembers preventing Arelative,movement ,therebetween and.

maintaining the socketl D Aof, the member 3 inalilY extended active` position adapting thel socket thereof forli the i reception of a nut, or, otherk threaded bodyh not shown. If it should be desired to use a Vlarger size socketof the wrench, that is, the socket B of the outermemberz, and with the parts of theA wrench in the position disclosed inFig. 2, vitwillbe rstvnecessary to loosen the nut 22 and then by finger pressure force the intermediate4 and inner members 3 4and 4 .rup-

wardly against the pressure exerted by thecoi l` spring I3. This ismadepossible by theelepgated nature of the slot 8 in the member 2. When.

the studreaches its uppermost position of4 travel in the slot 8, the lower socketed endsv of the intermediate andinner members 3 and 4, respectively, willvbe disposed within the conines vof the socket 9 of the outer memberz andspacedwellM above its lower or outer `edge lregion to render`V i ment has been attained the nut 22 is tightened, thereby holding the intermediate and inner sections 3 and 4 in their elevated positions, permitting of normal use of the socket in the outer member 2, as will be readily understood.

If it should be desired to use the socket in the inner member 4, and with the parts of the tool positioned as shown in Fig. 2, the loosening of the nut 22 will permit the, stud IQ to be forced downwardly by finger pressurel applied by the tool user. This downward movement will cause the lower or outer end of the member 4 to be projected and assume an active working positijon,; as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings.` During the lowering of the in- "ner member" 4, `the outer and intermediate membersare maintained in their relative porsitions shown in Fig'. 2 by the operation of the spring I3 and the stop ring I4. The intermediate and outer sections may be provided respectively, as lshowninFig. 2with openings 23and 24 which permits ofthe removal of the 'stud I9 from its operative position in the inner socket member 4jwhen the parts of the wrench are being assembled. or(` disassembled. The upper, end of the handle section H may beiequipped.4 with a transversebore25for the insertionL of a. ycross pin, not shown, which may be used inapplying turning lortorqueeffort to thetool.,

It will thus beseenthatthe present invention. provides a, compact well-balanced multiple v socket wrench in whichI thepartsof the wrench are maintained at all timeshinjoined or, assembled relationship, but wherein the `individual socket-equipped membersof `the wrench may ,be readily actuated by telescoiling movement in. relatively projecting orretracting the samebe.- tween active and inactive positions. The `toolis relatively simple in its mechanical construction, possesses aA longy operatinglife, and is not likely to becomeout of lorder or requirerepair.

It will be* understood `that the, invention as herein shownand described is subjectto certain mechanical variation` or `modification without departing fromthehspirit and scopeof the following claims. I l

I claim:

l.v A multiplesocket Wrench, comprising: an, outerv tubularmember, the .latter terminating. at one endthereorf inadwrenlch socket and be-l lngformediintermediate its length ywith a Aver-Y tical slot,v an intermediate .tubular memberslidably mounted in said, outerf'nienberfs'aid :in-.w rennes1'ate1jindienerA 't'errmatng at; one" endk thereof mja wjrerjrcnL steken vand 'being ,formed intermediategits 1er1gtn'witiia lvermai slot ldfsl. posed forfregistryj with the"l slot` ir1.s'aid`f.outer' meinten aniirmer; ,memberjsudelbiyij positioned" m.` ,said intermediate Hiermee "sais 'i'rme' mjmfber ,terminating atfoneendfther inlawrench to be selectiveiyprojeeted beyond' anaprtfaet- .Y

ed with respect to the corresponding r'ids of the remainingV members,"a coi1 spring com'ind in aM chamber A formed' in" saidouter member, Asaid I spring serving to exert' pressure `ori"`sai`d"inte`r'"/ mediate member to move'th'sam'inan outward direction relative 'to' said 'outer 1Inenbei means coasting with said intermediate and outer members to limit the extent of movement of the intermediate member in an outward direction, and a second coil sp-ring conned between one end of said intermediate member and a corresponding end of said inner member, said second spring serving normally to maintain said inner member in working position with respect to said intermediate member wherein the socketed end of said inner member is disposed within the connes of the socketed end of said intermediate member.

2. A telescopic multiple-head socket wrench, comprising: an elongated outer member of tubular formation, said member terminating at one end thereof in a rst multi-angular faced socket and provided with a longitudinally disposed slot in the `side Wall thereof intermediate its length; an elongated inner member telescoped Within said outer member, said inner member being terminated at one end thereof in a second multiangular Wrench socket of smaller size than said rst wrench socket, said inner member being movable longitudinally in a ychamber formed internally of said outer member, a tubular intermediate member surrounding said inner member and disposed for sliding movement within said outer member, said intermediate member being formed at one end thereof with a wrench-receiving socket of multi-angular formation differing in size from the Wrench-receiving socket of said inner and outer members, said intermediate member being formed intermediate its length with a longitudinally extending slot of shorter length than the slot in said outer member, said slots being disposed in relative registry, a coil spring confined in the chamber of said outer member, said spring being engaged with one end of said intermediate member to apply forces thereto moving the intermediate member out- Wardly and longitudinally, means carried by said outer member for limiting the outward longitudinal movement of said intermediate member relative to the outer member, a second spring means conned between one end of said intermediate member and an adjacent end of said inner member, said second spring means serving to move 4said inner member to a predetermined operating position relative to said intermediate and outer members, and manually operated `clamping means carried by said inner member and extended through the slots of the intermediate and outer members for exterior operation.

GEORGE A. DREESE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 236,114 Totten Dec. 28, 1880 1,346,061 Rosenberg July 6, 1920 1,539,136 Neel May 29, 1925 1,619,255 Haynes Mar. 1, 1927 

